EIKEN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.

EIKEN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. is a Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture, specializing in automotive filters and gas appliances. The company was established in February 1969 as Ehken Kogyo Corporation in Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture, and initially manufactured and sold automotive filters. It moved its head office to Hamaoka-cho (now Omaezaki City) in 1972 and changed its name to EIKEN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. the same year. The company's core products include automotive oil filters, air filters, and fuel filters, sold under the VIC brand, as well as burners for kitchen equipment and coin laundries. It also produces gas appliance components. EIKEN INDUSTRIES is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market, having previously been listed on JASDAQ. The company has a long history of manufacturing in Shizuoka, with factories in Omaezaki and surrounding areas. In recent years, it has diversified into new business areas, including health equipment and tent-type saunas, launching the "Garage Sauna" product in 2023. The company operates internationally, with a foreign trade department handling exports, and has an authorized distributor in Russia. As of October 2023, it employed 252 people and had capital of 601,800,000 yen. Its corporate policy emphasizes creativity, innovation, and harmony.

EIKEN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. was established in February 1969 as Ehken Kogyo Corporation in Isehara-cho, Naka-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture, with capital of 6 million yen. The company commenced manufacture and sales of automotive filters, aiming to move beyond subcontracting and strengthen its automotive filter production. The name "Ehken" was derived from "ei" meaning prosperity and "ken" meaning research, reflecting its orientation as a research and development company. In October 1971, a new factory was built in Hamaoka-cho, Ogasa-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture, to establish a production system for automotive oil filters. In March 1972, the head office was transferred to Hamaoka-cho, and in July 1972, the company changed its name to EIKEN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. In March 1973, the press factory was expanded with the installation of a large press line. In April 1973, TOHBU EIKEN CORPORATION was established in Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture. In September 1973, NIPPON ELEMENT CO., LTD. was acquired. In January 1976, the company obtained manufacturing permission for gas appliances from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and expanded its gas appliance production line. In April 1976, EIKEN CO., LTD. was established in Shizuoka City. In August 1978, EIKEN HEAT APPLIANCE CO., LTD. was established in Hamaoka-cho to assemble gas appliances. In March 1980, EIKEN HEAT APPLIANCE was dissolved due to poor performance, and its assets and liabilities were taken over. In March 1980, NIPPON ELEMENT changed its name to KOSHIN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. and relocated to Ogasa-cho. In June 1984, a technical building was constructed to establish a new product development system. In December 1985, KOSHIN INDUSTRIES was relocated to Hamaoka-cho. In December 1987, Miyuki Kono became representative director, and Minoru Horie became chairman. In July 1989, the company was certified as a designated factory for gas combustion appliance valves by the Japan Gas Appliances Inspection Association. In October 1992, a press factory was newly built to rationalize production lines. In December 1992, KOSHIN INDUSTRIES was merged, and the Oyama factory was opened at its location, establishing a production system for automotive fuel filters. In November 1994, TOHBU EIKEN was merged, and the original site became the Isehara factory, establishing a comprehensive system for automotive air filters. In November 1995, EIKEN CO., LTD. was merged to rationalize procurement operations. In May 1997, the company registered its shares with the Japan Securities Dealers Association (over-the-counter registration). In June 1999, it obtained ISO 9001 certification. In October 2000, an assembly factory was added. In January 2001, the Oyama factory was relocated to the head office factory. In February 2001, the company received the Energy Conservation Center Chairman's Award at the 2000 Energy Conservation Awards. In June 2002, it received the Technology Award from the Japan Gas Association. In December 2003, the Isehara factory was integrated into the head office factory. In April 2006, it obtained ISO 14001 certification. In September 2007, Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd. was separated from the group through transfer of shares. In April 2010, following the merger of JASDAQ Securities Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange, the company listed its shares on the Osaka Securities Exchange (JASDAQ market). In December 2004, it was listed on JASDAQ. In February 2023, it began sales of the tent-type sauna "Garage Sauna". The company is currently listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market.

• Established Ehken Kogyo Corporation in Isehara-cho, Naka-gun, Kanagawa-ken, with capital of 6 million yen; commenced manufacture and sales of automotive filters.

• Built a new factory in Hamaoka-cho, Ogasa-gun, Shizuoka-ken, establishing production system for automotive oil filters.

• Transferred the head office to Hamaoka-cho, Ogasa-gun, Shizuoka-ken.

• Changed the company name to EIKEN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.

• Expanded the press factory with installation of a large press line.

• Established TOHBU EIKEN CORPORATION in Isehara-shi, Kanagawa-ken.

• Acquired NIPPON ELEMENT CO., LTD.

• Obtained manufacturing permission for gas appliances from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry; expanded gas appliance production line.

• Established EIKEN CO., LTD. in Shizuoka City.

• Established EIKEN HEAT APPLIANCE CO., LTD. in Hamaoka-cho to assemble gas appliances.

• EIKEN HEAT APPLIANCE dissolved due to poor performance; assets and liabilities taken over. NIPPON ELEMENT renamed KOSHIN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. and relocated.

• Constructed a technical building to establish new product development system.

• Relocated KOSHIN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. to Hamaoka-cho.

• Miyuki Kono became representative director; Minoru Horie became chairman.

• Certified as designated factory for gas combustion appliance valves by Japan Gas Appliances Inspection Association.

• Newly built press factory to rationalize production lines.

• Merged KOSHIN INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.; opened Oyama factory at its location, establishing production system for automotive fuel filters.

• Merged TOHBU EIKEN CORPORATION; original site became Isehara factory, establishing comprehensive system for automotive air filters.

• Merged EIKEN CO., LTD. to rationalize procurement operations.

• Registered shares with Japan Securities Dealers Association (over-the-counter registration).

• Obtained ISO 9001 certification.

• Added an assembly factory.

• Relocated Oyama factory to head office factory.

• Received Energy Conservation Center Chairman's Award at the 2000 Energy Conservation Awards.

A specialized manufacturer of automotive filters and gas appliances, with a focus on aftermarket automotive filters under the VIC brand, and expanding into new consumer health and leisure products.

• Automotive oil filters

  Manufactured under the VIC brand for the automotive aftermarket.

• Automotive air filters

  Manufactured under the VIC brand for the automotive aftermarket.

• Automotive fuel filters

  Manufactured under the VIC brand for the automotive aftermarket.

• Gas burners

  For kitchen equipment and coin laundries.

• Gas appliance components

  Including gas combustion appliance valves.

• Garage Sauna

  Tent-type sauna for camping, beach, or home garden use.

1. 1エイケン工業株式会社｜VIC・工業用フィルタeiken-kk.co.jp
2. 2会社沿革 | エイケン工業株式会社｜VIC・工業用フィルタeiken-kk.co.jp
3. 3Corporate Profile | OIL FILTER - AIR FILTER - VIC JAPAN - OFFICIAL PAGEeiken-kk.co.jp
4. 4Общие Сведения о Компании | エイケン工業株式会社｜VIC・工業用フィルタeiken-kk.co.jp
5. 5EIKEN INDUSTRIES - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6エイケン工業 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org